Thanks to everyone for the great show of support you have shown us over the past weeks. We appreciate your optimism and encouragement and send back to you all our optimism for the future for each one of us individually, and for the future reopening of La Bodega. Like all of the restaurants in the Kansas City Metro, we have been forced to lay off most of our team, nearly 100 employees in both operations. While unemployment benefits will help many employees, they will not be enough to fully cover the needs of our team and their families. To ensure support is provided to those most in need, we are establishing two new initiatives: The Bodega Relief Fund for our staff members, and our Gift Certificate Program which a portion will be provided to the Relief Fund. We have discontinued our recent Curbside Pick Up and Delivery at La Bodega, Southwest Blvd due to the lack of control of Social Distancing and placing our current staff in harm’s way. We feel that this is the right message for our community to "Shelter in Place" at home, so can help to flatten the curve of this virus transmission. #STAYATHOME

WESTSIDE COMMUNITY RELIEF KITCHEN (DISCONTINUED)

La Bodega Community Relief Kitchen had panned to operate a relief kitchen created to respond to the nutritional needs of all persons and families affected by the Coronavirus pandemic of 2020. Our mission is to offer a prepared meal daily that can be accessed by those members of the community that are experiencing difficulty meeting basic nutrition needs due to the recent stay at home order dictated by the City of Kansas City, Jackson County in Missouri, and Johnson and Wyandotte Counties in Kansas. In response to a need to "Shelter in Place" and extend Social Distancing while protecting our staff and guests, we have elected to discontinue this effort. We realize, though, that this need is still prevalent within our community. With this said, we will be providing assistance and donations to area relief kitchens already in operation, as well as support a great group in Thelma's Kitchen at 3101 Troost Ave, Kansas City, MO 64109. Please vista their site to help assist them in their efforts @ Website: thelmaskitchen.org

THE BODEGA RELIEF FUND

The La Bodega Family is humbled by the kind messages of support and ideas to keep our doors open, and how to be strong for the future. As we all know our future isn’t the physical environment of the building, but it is our people – staff. There would be NO Bodega without our employees. Many of you have expressed the desire to help La Bodega with those experiencing hardship and also financially support our 100 + employees at both the Boulevard location and in Leawood. Our hearts warmed to know that generosity continues to exist in times like these.

With that said, we have set up two ways to help support our Servers, Bartenders, Cooks, Dishwashers and Managers two options to help:

1. This Gofundme account has been created to help support both our Community Relief Kitchen efforts and donations but has pivoted to support the finances of our employees through our Bodega Employee Relief Fund. Our goal is $15,000. We’re grateful for any amount.

2. La Bodega is also selling online our Gift Cards. 20% of all sales will go to the Bodega Employee Relief Fund. For example: for every $100 purchased, we will give $20 back to our employees whose jobs were disrupted. We can’t wait to show you our appreciation when we’re able to welcome you and our team back. The Gift Card program will run now through April 24th or extended as needed.